Bag-filling machine

ABSTRACT

An auger-type valve bag-filling machine having an electrical control circuit adapted to operate the auger to fill the bag until a predetermined, but less than the desired total, weight of product is reached, whereupon a timer circuit is energized which then maintains the auger in operation for a timed interval to complete filling of the bag.

United States Patent [72] Inventor John F. Green Red Oak, Iowa [21]Appl. No. 32,250 [22] Filed Apr. 27, 1970 [45 Patented Nov. 30, 1971 73]Assignee Douglas & Lomason Company Detroit, Mich.

[54] BAG-FILLING MACHINE 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 177/81, l77/l18,177/123 [51] Iut.Cl G013 13/08,

001g 13/12 [50] Field oISearch 177/118,

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{56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,705,607 4/1955 lnglett177/123 X 2,715,511 8/1955 Ahlburg et al 177/118 2,821,354 1/1958Kindseth 177/81 X 3,083,780 4/1963 Swenson... 177/81 X 3,133,609 5/1964Lau 177/118 3,193,029 7/1965 l-larvison et a1 177/81 X 3,252,531 5/1966Mayer et a1 177/81 X Primary Examiner-Robert S. Ward,.lr.Attorney-Whittemore, Hulbert& Belknap ABSTRACT: An auger-type valvebag-filling machine having an electrical control circuit adapted tooperate the auger to fill the bag until a predetermined, but less thanthe desired total, weight of product is reached, whereupon a timercircuit is energized which then maintains the auger in operation for atimed interval to complete filling of the bag.

PATENTEDunv 30 Ian SHEET 1 BF 2 a scale beam,

movement of the scale beam opens a limit switch which stops the auger toprevent further delivery of material to the bag.

The machine of disadvantage of requiring the use of cult for a machineof the type described which embodies a timing circuit. According to thepresent invention the motorthat are now required.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a bagfillingmachine of the kind to which the invention is directed; and

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating the circuits for controllingoperation of the machine.

In FIG. 1 the bag-filling machine is shown as comprising a frame havinga hopper 12 supported thereon and adapted to contain a supply ofmaterial 14 to be delivered to a valvetype bag 16. An auger 18 extendsthrough the lower end of the hopper l2 and is driven by an electric 22which extend around a drive pulley 24 and a drive pulley 26 which issecured on the outer end of the auger shaft 28.

At its lower end the hopper 12 is provided with a discharge spout 30through which the auger 18 extends. A filling tube 32 forms acontinuation of the spout 30 but is formed separately therefrom and isspaced from the outer end of the spout 30 by a narrow gap 34. Thefilling tube 32 is mounted on a hanger rod 36 which is secured to theend 38 of a scale beam 40 which is pivotally or otherwise movablymounted on the frame 10 of the machine. The lower end of the hanger rod36 is connected to the base 10 by a link 42. The scale beam 40 isprovided with .a weight 44 which may be opening at the upper end of thebag. 7

In a machine of this type the filling tube 32 is customarily only aboutthree-quarters full of the material being conveyed predetermined weightmaterial is in a free-falling state as it is discharged from thematerial fills the bag up to the level of the filling tube, that is,beyond the point at which the material is still falling freely from theend of the'filling tube, the back pressure caused by at the end of thetube will cause the tube to fill substantially completely with thematerial, thus preventing the required freedom of movement of the tuberelative to the auger.

According to the present invention,

the weighing mechanism may be set to trip the limit switch controllingthe below the level to which it ultimately will be filled. Theelectrical circuit to accomplish such result is shown in FIG. 2. Thecircuit includes'power leads 50, 52, and 54 which control operation ofthe reversible motor 20' in a conventional manner. A transformer 56supplies power to the control circuit.

mally open switch 74 When the operable by the scale'beam 40 so as toopen the switch when the bag weight reaches a predetermined value.

Energizing of coil 62 will close the corresponding motor contacts 84 tooperate the motor 20 in one direction to drive the auger and initiatethe bag-filling operation.

When the weight of the product in the bag reaches a and adjustablevalue, the scale beam 40 will be the limit switch 82, therebydeenergizing relay 64, opening switch 74, and closing switch 76. Closingof required level.

As soon as coil 62 is deenergized the normally closed switch 70 willclose and switch 68 will open. At the same time deenergization of timingcoil 66 will close the normally open switch 72, thus establishing acircuit through the reverse motor coil 88 to close motor contacts 89 toreverse the direction of rotation of the auger 18. After a furtherpredetermined time interval the switch 72 which is controlled by thetimer relay 66 will open, thus deenergizing the coil 88 to stop themotor. A normally closed switch 90 responsive to motor coil 88 isdisposed in the line between the motor coil 62 and the starting contactsto prevent accidental energization of coil 62 when the motor is inreverse operation.

At the end of the cycle of operation described, the bag is removed fromthe bag support. and the scale beam 40 will return to the startingposition to close the limit switch 82, and the machine is then ready foranother cycle of operation.

The control circuit described has the advantage of enabling operation ofthe weighing mechanism at a time during the bagfilling operation whenthe required free relative movement between the filling tube and theauger can take place. The auger therefore continues the fillingoperation under timed control rather than by weight of the contents ofthe bag. in a machine of this type the quantity of product delivered persecond by the auger is very consistent and the auger can very accuratelyfill the bag to the required level during the time interval.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An auger-type bag-filling machine for filling a valve-type bag with arequired weight of material, comprising a weighing mechanism responsiveto the weight of material in the bag, an auger for conveying materialthrough a valve opening in a bag to be filled, an electric motor fordriving said auger, and an electrical circuit for said motor which whenenergized operates said motor to drive said auger and convey materialinto said bag, said circuit including a means actuated by said weighingmechanism when the weight of material in the bag reaches a predeterminedvalue less than said required weight to cause continued operation ofsaid motor for a timed interval to fill the bag to the required weightand to open said circuit upon tennination of said timed interval.

2. An auger-type bag-filling machine for filling a valve-type bag with arequired weight of material, comprising a movable bag support, aweighing mechanism having a part thereof movable with said bag support,an auger for conveying material through a valve opening in a bag on saidsupport, an electric motor for driving said auger, and an electricalcircuit for said motor which when energized operates said motor to drivesaid auger and convey material into said bag, a switch in said circuitoperable responsive to movement of said part of said weighing mechanismto open said circuit when the weight of material in the bag reaches apredetermined value less than said required weight, an auxiliary circuitfor said motor adapted to be closed upon closing of said first circuit,a timing relay in said auxiliary circuit, operation of said switch beingoperable to energize said timing relay, said timing relay uponenergization thereof being adapted to initiate a timed interval duringwhich said motor remains energized through said auxiliary circuit tofill the bag to the required weight and to open said auxiliary circuitupon termination of said timed interval.

3. A machine according to claim 2 wherein said circuit includes meansfor operating said motor and auger in a reverse direction upontermination of said timed interval.

4. A machine according to claim 3 wherein said circuit includes meansfor terminating said reverse operation of said motor after a timedinterval.

1. An auger-type bag-filling machine for filling a valve-type bag with arequired weight of material, comprising a weighing mechanism responsiveto the weight of material in the bag, an auger for conveying materialthrough a valve opening in a bag to be filled, an electric motor fordriving said auger, and an electrical circuit for said motor which whenenergized operates said motor to drive said auger and convey materialinto said bag, said circuit including a means actuated by said weighingmechanism when the weight of material in the bag reaches a predeterminedvalue less than said required weight to cause continued operation ofsaid motor for a timed interval to fill the bag to the required weightand to open said circuit upon termination of said timed interval.
 2. Anauger-type bag-filling machine for filling a valve-type bag with arequired weight of material, comprising a movable bag support, aweighing mechanism having a part thereof movable with said bag support,an auger for conveying material throUgh a valve opening in a bag on saidsupport, an electric motor for driving said auger, and an electricalcircuit for said motor which when energized operates said motor to drivesaid auger and convey material into said bag, a switch in said circuitoperable responsive to movement of said part of said weighing mechanismto open said circuit when the weight of material in the bag reaches apredetermined value less than said required weight, an auxiliary circuitfor said motor adapted to be closed upon closing of said first circuit,a timing relay in said auxiliary circuit, operation of said switch beingoperable to energize said timing relay, said timing relay uponenergization thereof being adapted to initiate a timed interval duringwhich said motor remains energized through said auxiliary circuit tofill the bag to the required weight and to open said auxiliary circuitupon termination of said timed interval.
 3. A machine according to claim2 wherein said circuit includes means for operating said motor and augerin a reverse direction upon termination of said timed interval.
 4. Amachine according to claim 3 wherein said circuit includes means forterminating said reverse operation of said motor after a timed interval.